Display device

ABSTRACT

An LCD includes a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit, a rear cover, a mold frame and a front cover that slides down over and couples with the rear cover to form a space within which the liquid crystal panel, mold frame and backlight unit are protectively enclosed. The front cover has a lateral part with a first coupling part and a feature for receiving a lateral projection on the mold frame. The rear cover has a mold frame lateral wall with a second coupling part adapted to slidably engage and couple with the first coupling part when the front cover is slid down on the rear cover, and the mold frame has a lateral projection that is received in the front cover receiving feature when the front and rear covers are fully assembled together. The foregoing features enable deformation of the lower cover to be minimized during assembly of the device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Korean Patent Application No.2006-0002433, filed Jan. 9, 2006, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to display devices, such as liquid crystaldisplays (LCDs) and more particularly, to display devices in which thedeformation of a rear cover of the display is minimized during theassembly thereof.

Increasingly, flat panel display devices, such as liquid crystaldisplays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs) and organic light emittingdiode (OLED) displays, are being adopted to replace larger, heavier andbulkier cathode ray tube (CRT) display devices.

LCDs comprise a thin film transistor substrate, a color filter substrateand a layer of a liquid crystal material interposed between the twosubstrates to form a liquid crystal panel. Additionally, as the LCD doesnot itself emit light, it is typically provided with a “backlight” unitthat is positioned behind the thin film transistor substrate to serve asa source of light for the liquid crystal panel.

The liquid crystal panel and backlight unit are typically mountedbetween and supported by a front cover and a rear cover of the display'shousing. The rear cover and the front cover must necessarily be thin andlight in weight, yet must be strong enough to protect the liquid crystalpanel and the backlight unit against external shocks. Coupling parts aretypically provided in the front and rear covers, which enable the twoparts to be slidably coupled with each other.

However, the rear cover may easily become deformed by pressure when thecoupling parts are slidably engaged with each other. When the rear coverbecomes deformed, the LCD device cannot be assembled properly.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments thereof disclosed herein,the present invention provides a display device in which the deformationof the rear cover of the device during assembly is minimized.

In one exemplary embodiment thereof, a display device comprises a liquidcrystal panel, a backlight unit for providing light to the liquidcrystal panel, and a rear cover that comprises a bottom plate disposedin parallel with the liquid crystal panel, and a rear cover lateral wallextending perpendicularly forward from the bottom plate and forming aspace within which the backlight unit is received.

A mold frame is positioned between the liquid crystal panel and thebacklight unit, and comprises a frame disposed around the peripheraledge of the liquid crystal panel, and a mold frame lateral wall thatextends perpendicularly from the frame. A front cover is slid down overand coupled with the rear cover to define a space in which the liquidcrystal panel, the mold frame and the backlight unit are enclosed, andcomprises a front frame part having a display opening that exposes apart of the front surface of the liquid crystal panel therethrough, anda front cover lateral part extending perpendicularly rearward from thefront frame part.

The front cover lateral part comprises a front cover coupling part and aprojection receiving feature, e.g., a recess or an opening, disposedadjacent to the front cover coupling part. The rear cover lateral wallcomprises a rear cover coupling part that is adapted to slidably engageand couple with the front cover coupling part when the front cover isslid down over the rear cover. The mold frame lateral wall includes alateral projection that serves to space the front cover coupling partfrom the rear cover coupling part laterally when the front cover isinitially disposed on the rear cover for subsequent sliding engagementthereon, and is received in the projection receiving feature of thefront cover when the front cover is fully assembled on the rear cover.

In one aspect of the present invention, an elongated inward protrusionis formed adjacent to the front cover coupling part on the lateral partof the front cover, and the projection receiving feature is formedbetween the elongated protrusion and the front cover frame part. Inanother aspect, the lateral distance of the elongated protrusion fromthe front cover lateral part toward the the mold frame lateral wall islarger than the lateral distance of the front cover coupling part to thelateral wall of the mold frame.

In another aspect, the elongated protrusion comprises an inclined planeface on a rear end thereof that slidably contacts the lateral projectionof the mold frame. In another aspect, the lateral projection includes aninclined plane face on a front edge thereof that slidably contacts therear end of the elongated protrusion.

In another aspect, the distance from a lower end of the elongatedprotrusion to the bottom plate of the rear cover is less than thedistance from a lower end of the front cover coupling part to the rearcover bottom plate.

In another aspect, the front cover coupling part comprises an inclinedramp face which protrudes from the front cover lateral part and slidablycontacts the rear cover coupling part. In another aspect, the rear covercoupling part comprises an inclined ramp face which protrudes from therear cover lateral wall and slidably contacts the front cover couplingpart.

In another aspect, the front cover coupling part protrudes outward fromthe front cover lateral part and the rear cover coupling part protrudesoutward from the rear cover lateral wall and is partially received in anopening of the front cover coupling part when the two covers are fullyengaged with each other.

In another aspect, the rear cover coupling part is pressed toward therear cover lateral wall and the front coupling part protrudes inwardlyfrom the front cover lateral wall, and has an forward end disposed inabutment with a rear end of the rear cover coupling part when the twocovers are fully engaged with each other.

In another aspect, the lateral wall of the mold frame comprises aseating recess in which the elongated protrusion is stably received, andfurther includes an opening through which the rear cover coupling partis exposed.

In another aspect, the front cover lateral part comprises a front covercoupling opening disposed adjacent to the front cover coupling part andadapted to couple with the rear cover coupling part.

In another exemplary embodiment, a display device comprises a liquidcrystal panel, a backlight unit that provides light to the liquidcrystal panel, and a rear cover that comprises a bottom plate disposedparallel to the liquid crystal panel and a rear cover lateral wallextending perpendicularly forward from the bottom plate and forming aspace in which the backlight unit is received.

A mold frame is positioned between the liquid crystal panel and thebacklight unit, and comprises a frame disposed around a peripheral edgeof the liquid crystal panel and supported by the rear cover lateralwall, and a lateral wall extending perpendicularly from the frame.

A front cover is slid down over and coupled with the rear cover to forman accommodation space in which the liquid crystal panel, the mold frameand the backlight unit are enclosed. The front cover comprises a frontframe part having a display opening exposing a part of the front surfaceof the liquid crystal panel therethrough, and a front cover lateral partextending perpendicularly rearward from the front frame part. The frontcover lateral part comprises a front cover coupling part and a lateralprojection receiving opening disposed adjacent to the front couplingpart.

The rear cover lateral wall comprises a rear cover coupling part adaptedto slidably engage and couple with the front cover coupling part whenthe front cover is slid down over the rear cover.

The lateral wall of the mold frame includes a lateral projection thatspaces the front and rear cover coupling parts apart from each other ata selected lateral distance when the front cover is initially disposedon the rear cover for sliding engagement therewith, and the lateralprojection is received in the lateral projection receiving opening ofthe front cover lateral part when the front and rear covers aresubsequently fully engaged with each other.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the lateral heightof the lateral projection from the lateral wall is larger than the sumof the lateral height of the front cover coupling part from the frontcover lateral wall and the lateral height of the rear cover couplingpart from the rear cover lateral wall.

A better understanding of the above and many other features andadvantages of the LCD devices of the present invention may be obtainedfrom a consideration of the detailed description of some exemplaryembodiments thereof below, particularly if such consideration is made inconjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like reference numeralsare used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of thefigures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first exemplary embodimentof an LCD in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is partial upper perspective view a front cover of the exemplaryLCD of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the LCD front cover of FIG. 2being slidably engaged with a rear cover and mold frame of the exemplaryLCD;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are partial cross-sectional views of the front cover,mold frame and rear cover, as seen along the section lines IV-IV takenin FIG. 3, respectively illustrating the parts before and after theirengagement with each other during assembly;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are partial cross-sectional views of the front cover,mold frame and rear cover, as seen along the section lines V-V taken inFIG. 3, respectively illustrating the parts before and after theirengagement with each other during assembly;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial cross-sectional views of a front cover, moldframe and rear cover of a second exemplary embodiment of an LCD inaccordance with the present invention, respectively illustrating theparts before and after their engagement with each other during assembly;

FIGS. 6C and 6D are partial cross-sectional views of the front cover,mold frame and rear cover of the second exemplary LCD embodiment,respectively illustrating the parts before and after their engagementwith each other during assembly;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial cross-sectional views of a front cover, moldframe and rear cover of a third exemplary embodiment of an LCD inaccordance with the present invention, respectively illustrating theparts before and after their engagement with each other during assembly;and,

FIGS. 7C and 7D are partial cross-sectional views of the front cover,mold frame and rear cover of the third exemplary LCD embodiment,respectively illustrating the parts before and after their engagementwith each other during assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, exemplary embodiments of a “direct” typeof LCD device are described. However, it should be understood that thepresent invention is not limited to such display types, but is alsoapplicable to other types of display devices, such as edge type LCDdevices.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first exemplary embodimentof an LCD 1 in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the LCD 1 comprises a liquid crystal panel 10 that displays animage thereon, a driver 20 that drives the liquid crystal panel 10, amold frame 25 that supports a peripheral edge of the liquid crystalpanel 10, a backlight unit 30 that provides light to the liquid crystalpanel 10, a rear cover 80 that supports the mold frame 25 and withinwhich the backlight unit 30 is disposed, and a front cover 90 thatslides down over and is coupled with the rear cover 80 and covers afront peripheral edge portion of the liquid crystal panel 10.

The liquid crystal panel 10 comprises a thin film transistor (TFT)substrate 11, a color filter substrate 12 that faces the TFT substrate11, and a layer of a liquid crystal material (not illustrated) that isinterposed between the TFT substrate 11 and the color filter substrate12. The liquid crystal panel 10 further comprises polarizing plates 13and 14 that are respectively disposed ahead of the color filtersubstrate 12 and behind the TFT substrate 11 to polarize light passingthrough the liquid crystal panel 10. Cells of the liquid crystalmaterial are arranged in a matrix form in the liquid crystal panel 10.The liquid crystal panel 10 displays an image by adjusting the amount oflight transmitted through each of the liquid crystal cells in accordancewith image signal information supplied thereto from the driver 20.

A grid of mutually orthogonal gate wires and data wires are formed onthe TFT substrate 11 to define a rectangular matrix of pixels thereon. ATFT is formed at an intersection of each of the gate wires and the datawires. A signal voltage transmitted from the driver 20 is supplied to apixel electrode and a common electrode of the color filter substrate 12(described below) through the TFT. The molecules of the liquid crystalmaterial disposed between the pixel electrode and the common electrodeare arranged in accordance with the signal voltage applied to theelectrodes to determine the amount of light transmitted through eachpixel.

The color filter substrate 12 comprises the common electrode describedabove, along with red, green and blue color filters, or alternatively,cyan, magenta and yellow color filters, which are formed on thesubstrate in repetitive patterns. The common electrode comprises atransparent conductive material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) orindium zinc oxide (IZO). The color filter substrate 12 is typicallysmaller in area than the thin film transistor substrate 11.

The front polarizing plate 13 and the rear polarizing plate 14 functionto polarize light passing therethrough. The rear polarizing plate 14polarizes light incident on the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel10, and the front polarizing plate 13 serves as an analyzer of the lightpassing through the front surface thereof.

The driver 20 is provided at a lateral side of the TFT substrate 11 tosupply a driving signal. The driver 20 comprises a flexible printedcircuit board (FPC) 21, a driving chip 22 provided on the FPC 21, and aprinted circuit board (PCB) 23, which is connected with a lateral sideof the FPC 21. The driver 20 in the particular exemplary embodimentillustrated employs a chip on film (COF) method, but is not limitedthereto. The driver 20 may alternatively employ other known methods,including a tape carrier package (TCP) and a chip on glass (COG), andthe like. The driver 20 may be formed on the thin film transistorsubstrate 21 during a wire-forming process. The driver 20 comprises aterminal for making an electrical connection. The terminal of the driver20 is mounted on the thin film transistor substrate 11 for connectionwith an end part of the gate wires and the data wires of the TFTsubstrate 11, which extend from a display region to a non-display regionthereof.

In the particular first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the mold frame25 is disposed at the peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel 10 andis generally rectangular in shape, and the liquid crystal panel 10 isspaced forward of the backlight unit 30 by the mold frame 25. Asillustrated in the detail breakout view of FIG. 1 and thecross-sectional views of FIGS. 3-4A, the mold frame 25 comprises a framepart 26 that is disposed around the peripheral edge of the liquidcrystal panel 10 and is supported by a U-shaped lateral wall 83 of therear cover 80 (described in more detail below), a lateral wall 27 thatextends perpendicularly downward from the frame 26, and a lateralprojection 24 that protrudes laterally outward from the frame 26.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the upper surface of the frame 26of the mold frame defines a surface for supporting a peripheral edge ofthe rear surface of the liquid crystal panel 10. The rear surface of thesupporting surface is in turn supported by the U-shaped rear coverlateral wall 83. As illustrated in the detail breakout view of FIG. 1and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A, the external peripheral surfaceof the mold frame lateral wall 27A defines a lateral seating recess 28and a opening 29 through which a rear cover coupling part 84 (describedbelow) is exposed. An elongated protrusion 95 (described below) isformed on the inner walls of the front cover 90 and is arranged to bestably seated within the seating recess 28 (see FIGS. 3 and 4B) when thefront cover 90 is slid down over and fully engaged with the rear cover80, in the manner described below.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the lateral projection 24protrudes outward from an end part of the frame part 26 of the moldframe 25. As illustrated in FIGS. 3, SA and 5B, a front cover couplingpart 93 is spaced apart laterally from the rear cover coupling part 84by the projection 24 before the two coupling parts engage each otherduring assembly. When the front cover 90 and the rear cover 80 have beenassembled together, as illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B, at least a partof the lateral projection 24 is received in a projection receivingrecess 98 of the front cover 90, as illustrated in FIG. 4B. In apreferred embodiment, the sum of the lateral distance “d4” (see FIGS. 6Aand 7A) from the rear cover lateral wall 83 to the outer end the lateralprojection 24 and the lateral height “d2” (see FIG. 2) of the elongatedfront cover protrusion 95, is greater than the sum of the lateral height“dl” (see FIG. 3) of the front cover coupling part 93 and the height“d6” (see FIG. 7C) of the rear cover coupling part 84. Additionally, aninclined contact surface “a” (see FIGS. 4A and 5A) is preferablyprovided at a front edge of the lateral projection 24 end part toslidably contact the rear end of the elongated protrusion 95 of thefront cover in a cam-like engagement when the latter is slid down overthe mold frame 25.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the backlight unit 30 comprises an opticalsheet 40 that is disposed in parallel with the liquid crystal panel 10,a light source unit 50 that provides light to the liquid crystal panel10 through the optical sheet 40, a light source supporting member 60that is attached to the rear cover 80 to support the light source unit50, and a reflector sheet 70 that is disposed between the light sourceunit 50 and the rear cover 80, and which serves to reflect light fromthe light source unit 50 toward the liquid crystal panel 10.

The optical sheet 40 comprises a protection sheet 41, a prism sheet 43and a diffusion sheet 45 that are disposed behind the liquid crystalpanel 10. The diffusion sheet 45 comprises a base plate and a coatinglayer containing bead-like shapes that is formed on the base plate. Thediffusion sheet 45 serves to diffuse light from a light source main body51 and radiates it onto the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel 10.The diffusion sheet 45 may be provided in two or three folds. The prismsheet 43 comprises triangular prisms that are disposed at selectedintervals thereon. The prism sheet 43 serves to collect the lightdiffused by the diffusion sheet 45 and direct it in a perpendiculardirection toward the liquid crystal panel 10. The prism sheet 43 istypically provided in two sheets. Micro prisms having a selected angletherebetween are formed on each of the prism sheets 43. Light from theprism sheet 43 radiates in a direction perpendicular to the sheet toprovide light of a uniform brightness to the liquid crystal panel 10.The protection sheet 41 is provided on the prism sheet 43 to protect itfrom being scratched.

The light source unit 50 comprises the light source main body 51 thatemits light and a light source electrode 53 that is formed on an endpart of the light source main body 51. The light source unit 50 receiveselectrical power from an inverter (not illustrated). The plurality oflight source units 50 are arranged in parallel below the lower surfaceof the liquid crystal panel 10. The light source unit 50 may comprise acold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), or alternatively, an externalelectrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) that provides light of a highbrightness, and which is reasonably priced, consumes less power anddrives the plurality of light source units 50 through a single inverter(not illustrated). The light source units 50 may also comprise a flatfluorescent lamp (FFL) (not illustrated) that can provide light of auniform brightness in a flat panel shape, and which therefore generateslight without an increased thickness. The FFL provides highly uniformbrightness, consumes less power and has a longer lifespan, than otherconventional light sources.

The light source supporting member 60 comprises a main support body 61having a platelike shape, a light holder 62 that protrudes upward fromthe main support body 61 and supports the light source main body 51 ofthe light source unit 50, and a plurality of hooks (not illustrated)that protrude from the main support body 61 and are respectivelyreceived in a corresponding coupling holes 81 in the rear cover 80, asdescribed below. The light source supporting member 60 is therebycoupled to the rear cover 80 and serves to support the light source unit50 and protect it from external shock.

The reflector sheet 70 is provided between the light source unit 50 andthe rear cover 80 and serves to reflect light from the light source unit50 to the diffusion sheet 45. The reflector sheet 70 may comprise aplastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) orpolycarbonate (PC). The reflector sheet 70 is attached to a bottomsurface of the rear cover 80. A plurality of holes 71 are formed in thereflection sheet 70 in positions corresponding to those of the couplingholes 81 in the rear cover 80. The hooks of the light source supportingmember 60 pass through respective ones of the holes 71 in the reflectionsheet. With reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4A and 4B, the rear cover 80comprises a bottom plate 82 that is disposed parallel to the liquidcrystal panel 10, and the rear cover lateral wall 83, which is extendsforwardly from the bottom plate 82 and forms a space within which thebacklight unit 30 is accommodated. That is, the space for the backlightunit is defined by the upper surface of the bottom plate 82 and theinner wall surfaces of the rear cover lateral wall 83, and is of anappropriate size and shape to accommodate the backlight unit 30 therein.As described above, the plurality of coupling holes 81 are provided inthe bottom plate 82 for engagement with respective ones of the hooks ofthe light source supporting member 60. The backlight unit 30 is thusstably seated on the upper surface of the bottom plate 82.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the rear cover coupling part 84protrudes laterally outward from the rear cover 80 and is disposed onthe outer wall of the U-shaped rear cover lateral wall 83. An inclinedramp face “d” (see FIG. 5B) is formed on the rear cover coupling part 84to slidably contact the front cover coupling part 93 during assembly ofthe front cover to the rear cover such the two coupling parts 84 and 93engage each other in a resilient, sliding, over-center, snap-inengagement during the assembly thereof, as illustrated in the before-and after-engagement cross-sectional views of FIGS. 5A and 5B,respectively.

Returning to FIG. 2, the front cover 90 comprises a front frame part 91having an opening therein in which a display part of the front surfaceof the liquid crystal panel 10 is framed, and a front cover lateral part92 that extends perpendicularly rearward from the front frame part 91.The front cover 90 is slid down over and coupled with the rear cover 80so as to cover and enclose the liquid crystal panel 10 and the moldframe 25 protectively therein.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 5A and 5B, the front cover lateral part 92comprises the front cover coupling part 93, which, in the particularembodiment illustrated, protrudes laterally inward, a front covercoupling opening 94, which is formed forward of the front cover couplingpart 93, and a pair of the elongated protrusions 95, which are disposedon opposite ends of the front cover coupling part 93 and protrudelaterally inward from the inner surface of the front cover lateral part92. The front cover coupling part 93 couples with the rear covercoupling part 84 as described above, and their respective positionsbefore and after the coupling together of the front and rear covers arerespectively illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. As illustrated in FIG. 5A,an inclined ramp face “c” is provided on the front cover coupling part93 to slidably engage the corresponding inclined ramp face “d” of therear coupling part 84 during assembly, and as illustrated in FIG. 5B,after assembly, a front end of the front cover coupling part 93 isdisposed in opposing abutment with a rear end of the rear cover couplingpart 84, and at least a part of the rear cover coupling part 84 isengaged in the front cover coupling opening 94, thereby ensuring thatthe front and rear covers 92 and 80 are stably coupled with each otherafter assembly.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the front-to-rear distance from thelower end of the elongated protrusion 95 on the front cover 90 to therear surface of the rear cover bottom plate 82 is less than that fromthe front end of the front cover coupling part 93 to the rear surface ofthe rear cover bottom plate 82. The front-to-rear height of theelongated protrusion 95 is larger than that of the front cover couplingpart 93, and the protrusion is disposed further forward on the frontcover lateral part 92 than the front cover coupling part 93. An inclinedramp face “b” (see FIG. 4A) is formed on the rear end of the elongatedprotrusion 95 to slidably contact the lateral projection 24 of the frontcover during assembly. The projection receiving recess 98 of the frontcover 90 is located forward of the elongated protrusion 95 and below thefront cover frame part 91, and serves to receive the projection 24therein when the front cover is pressed down onto the mold frame 25 andbottom cover 80, as illustrated in FIG. 4B.

With the foregoing configuration in mind, a method for assembling thedisplay device 1 according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention of FIG. 1 is described below in conjunction with FIGS. 3 to5B.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the front cover 90 is pressed down over themold frame 25 and rear cover 80. As discussed above, the distance fromthe rear ends of the elongated protrusions 95 to the bottom surface ofthe bottom plate 82 of the rear cover 80 is less than that from thefront end of the front cover coupling part 93 to the bottom surface ofthe rear cover bottom plate 82. Thus, the rear ends of the elongatedprotrusions 95 contact the front cover lateral projection 24 firstduring the assembly of the front cover 90 onto the rear cover.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the inclined ramp face contacting surface “b”on the rear end of the elongated protrusion 95 slidably contacts theinclined ramp face contact surface “a” of the front edge of the lateralprojection 24. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the protrusion 95 is disposedfurther forward on the front cover lateral part 92 than the front covercoupling part 93. Thus, the lateral projection 24 serves to space thefront cover coupling part 93 apart laterally from the rear covercoupling part 84 at a selected distance d3. That is, the front and rearcover coupling parts 93 and 84 are disposed concentrically with respectto each other and spaced laterally apart from each other by theprotrusions 95 and the lateral projection 24 at the beginning of theassembly procedure. This advantageously results in less pressure beingapplied to the rear cover 80 while being coupled with the front cover90, thereby minimizing deformation of the rear cover during assembly.Indeed, the pressure generated when the front cover 90 and the rearcover 80 are coupled with each other is instead applied to the moldframe 25, which is supported by the rear cover 80, thereby minimizingthe deformation of the rear cover 80 due to the pressure.

When the front and rear covers 90 and 80 are assembled together, atleast a part of the lateral projection 24 of the mold frame 25 isdisposed within the projection receiving recess 98 of the front cover90, and the elongated protrusions 95 are stably seated in the lateralseating recess 28 of the mold frame lateral wall 27, as illustrated inFIGS. 4B and 5B. The front end of the front cover coupling part 93 abutsagainst and is fully engaged with the rear end of the rear covercoupling part 84, and at least a part of the rear cover coupling part 84is engaged within the front cover coupling opening 94.

Display devices according to second and third exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention are described below with reference to FIGS. 6A to7D. FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrate a display device in accordance with thesecond exemplary embodiment, and FIGS. 7A to 7D illustrate a displaydevice in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment.

As may be seen in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 6A-6D, a frontcover 90 of the second embodiment of display device does not include theelongated protrusions 95 of the first embodiment. Instead, the frontcover 90 of the second embodiment includes a mold frame lateralprotrusion receiving opening 99, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Acorresponding lateral projection 24 protrudes laterally outward from themold frame 25 to dispose front cover coupling parts 93 and rear covercoupling parts 84 concentrically with respect to each other and spacethem apart laterally from each other when the front cover 90 isinitially disposed on the rear cover 80 for subsequent engagementtherewith, as illustrated in FIG. 6B. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6C,the lateral distance d4 of the end of the lateral projection 24 from therear cover lateral wall 83 is larger than the sum “d5” of the lateraldistances from a front cover lateral part 92 and from the rear coverlateral wall 83 to the rear cover coupling part 84.

Following is a detailed description of the assembly of the secondembodiment of display device. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the front cover90 is initially pressed down onto the rear cover 80, the front coverlateral part 92 slidably contacts the mold frame lateral projection 24.As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the lateral distance d4 from the rearcover lateral wall 83 to the outer end of the projection 24 is largerthan the lateral distance d5 (FIG. 6C), and accordingly, the front covercoupling parts 93 are disposed concentrically with respect to the rearcover coupling parts 84 and spaced laterally apart from them at aselected distance d3, as illustrated in the detail breakout view of FIG.6C. That is, the front cover coupling parts 93 are disposedconcentrically about and spaced apart from the rear cover coupling parts84 by the mold frame lateral projection 24 during the assembly of thefront cover to the rear cover. Thus, the rear cover 80 receives lesspressure while being coupled with the front cover 90, thereby minimizingthe deformation of the rear cover. The pressure generated while couplingthe front cover 90 to the rear cover 80 is instead applied to the moldframe 25, and as the mold frame 25 is supported by the rear cover 80during assembly, the deformation of the rear cover 80 due to theassembly pressure is thereby eliminated.

As illustrated in FIG. 6B, when the front and rear covers 90 and 80 areassembled together completely, at least a part of the lateral projection24 of the mold frame 25 is disposed in the projection receiving opening99 of the front cover 90, and a part of the front cover lateral part 92is stably seated within the lateral seating recess 28 (see FIG. 6A) ofthe mold frame lateral wall 27, as illustrated in FIGS. 6B and 6A. Whenthe front and rear cover coupling parts 93 and 84 are coupled with eachother, the front end of the front cover coupling part 93 is disposed infacing abutment with the rear end of the rear cover coupling part 84,and at least a portion of the rear cover coupling part 84 is disposedwithin a front cover coupling opening 94, as illustrated in FIG. 6D.

FIGS. 7A to 7D respectively illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of adisplay device in accordance with the present invention. With referenceto these figures, a front cover coupling part 93 of the third embodimentprotrudes laterally outward from a front cover lateral part 92. Asillustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the sum of the lateral height d2 of anelongated inward protrusion 95 on an inner surface of the lateral part92 of the front cover 90 and a lateral height d4 of a lateral projection24 on the mold frame 25 from an outer surface of the lateral wall 83 ofthe rear cover 80 is greater than the lateral height d6 of a rear covercoupling part 84.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, when the front cover 90 is pressed down overthe mold frame 25 and rear cover 80, the protrusion 95 on the frontcover slidably contacts the projection 24 first. As shown in FIGS. 7Aand 7C, as the sum of the lateral height d2 of the inward protrusion 95and the lateral height d4 of the lateral projection 24 is greater thanthe lateral height d6 of the rear cover coupling part 84, and the frontcover coupling parts 93 are therefore disposed concentrically about andspaced apart laterally apart from corresponding ones of the rearcoupling parts 84 at a selected radial distance d3. That is, respectiveones of the front cover coupling parts 93 are spaced apart from the rearcover coupling parts 84 by the projection 24 while the front cover 90 isbeing assembled onto the rear cover 80. Therefore, less pressure isapplied to the rear cover 80 while the front cover 90 is being coupledwith it, thereby minimizing deformation of the rear cover 80. Thepressure generated while the front and rear covers 90 and 80 are beingassembled together is instead applied to the mold frame 25, and as themold frame 25 is supported by the rear cover 80 during assembly, thedeformation of the rear cover 80 due to the pressure is therebyminimized.

As illustrated in FIG. 7B, when the front and rear covers 90 and 80 arecompletely assembled together, at least a part of the lateral projection24 of the mold frame 25 is disposed in the lateral projection receivingopening 99, and the inward protrusion 95 of the front cover is stablyseated within the lateral seating recess 28 of the mold frame lateralwall. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 7D, when the front and rearcover coupling parts 93 and 84 are fully engaged with each other, atleast a rear end part of the rear cover coupling part 84 is engagedwithin the front cover coupling opening 94.

A fourth exemplary embodiment of a display device in accordance with thepresent invention is now described with reference to FIG. 5A. In thisembodiment, the rear cover coupling part 84 is resiliently deflectedinto the rear cover lateral wall 83 during assembly. Except for thisdifference, the configurations of the other components are the same asin the first embodiment described above. With the foregoingconfiguration, as the front and rear covers 90 and 80 are assembledtogether, at least a part of a front cover coupling part 93 isaccommodated and coupled with respect to the rear coupling part 84 inthe fully assembled condition.

By now, those of skill in this art will appreciate that manymodifications, substitutions and variations can be made in and to theLCD devices of the present invention without departing from its spiritand scope. In light of this, the scope of the present invention shouldnot be limited to that of the particular embodiments illustrated anddescribed herein, as they are only exemplary in nature, but instead,should be fully commensurate with that of the claims appended hereafterand their functional equivalents.

1. A display device, comprising: a liquid crystal panel; a backlightunit providing light to the liquid crystal panel; a rear cover,comprising a bottom plate disposed in parallel with the liquid crystalpanel and a rear cover lateral wall extending perpendicularly forwardfrom the bottom plate and forming a space within which the backlightunit is received; a mold frame positioned between the liquid crystalpanel and the backlight unit and comprising a frame disposed around aperipheral edge of the liquid crystal panel and a mold frame lateralwall extending perpendicularly from the frame; and, a front coveradapted to slide down over and couple with the rear cover so as to forman accommodating space within which the liquid crystal panel, the moldframe and the backlight unit are protectively enclosed, and comprising afront frame part having a display opening exposing a part of a frontsurface of the liquid crystal panel therethrough, and a front coverlateral part extending perpendicularly rearward from the front framepart, and wherein: the front cover lateral part includes a front covercoupling part and a lateral projection receiving feature disposedadjacent to the front cover coupling part, the rear cover lateral wallincludes a rear cover coupling part adapted to slidably engage andcouple with the front cover coupling part when the front cover is sliddown over the rear cover, and the mold frame lateral wall of the moldframe includes a lateral projection that spaces the front and rear covercoupling parts apart from each other at a selected lateral distance whenthe front cover is initially disposed on the rear cover for subsequentsliding engagement therewith, and which is received in the lateralprojection receiving feature of the front cover lateral part when thefront and rear covers are fully engaged with each other.
 2. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein an elongated inward protrusion is formedadjacent to the front cover coupling part of the front cover lateralpart, and the lateral projection receiving feature is formed between theelongated inward protrusion and the front cover frame part.
 3. Thedisplay device of claim 2, wherein the lateral height of the elongatedprotrusion from the front cover lateral part toward the mold framelateral wall is larger than that of the front cover coupling part. 4.The display device of claim 3, wherein the elongated protrusioncomprises an inclined ramp face on a rear end thereof that contacts thelateral projection of the mold frame lateral wall for sliding movementrelative thereto when the front cover is initially disposed on the rearcover for subsequent sliding engagement therewith.
 5. The display deviceof claim 4, wherein the lateral projection of the mold frame lateralwall comprises an inclined ramp face on a front edge thereof thatcontacts the inclined ramp face on the rear end of the elongatedprotrusion for sliding movement relative thereto when the front cover isinitially disposed on the rear cover for subsequent sliding engagementtherewith.
 6. The display device of claim 3, wherein the distance from alower end of the elongated protrusion to the rear cover bottom plate isless than a distance from a lower end of the front cover coupling partto the rear cover bottom plate.
 7. The display device of claim 6,wherein the front cover coupling part comprises an inclined ramp facewhich protrudes laterally from the front cover lateral part for slidingengagement with the rear cover coupling part.
 8. The display device ofclaim 7, wherein the rear cover coupling part comprises an inclined rampface disposed in opposition to the inclined ramp face of the front covercoupling part for sliding movement relative thereto when the front coveris slid down over the rear cover.
 9. The display device of claim 6,wherein the front cover coupling part protrudes laterally outward fromthe front cover lateral part and the rear cover coupling part protrudeslaterally outward from the rear cover lateral wall and is at leastpartially received within an opening of the front cover coupling partwhen the front cover is fully engaged with the rear cover.
 10. Thedisplay device of claim 6, wherein the rear cover coupling part ispressed inwardly toward the rear cover lateral wall and the front covercoupling part protrudes inwardly from the front cover lateral wall andhas an upper end in disposed in abutment with a lower end of the rearcover coupling part when the front cover is fully engaged with the rearcover.
 11. The display device of claim 6, wherein the mold frame lateralwall includes an opening through which the rear cover coupling part isexposed and a lateral seating recess adapted to receive and stably seatthe elongated protrusion of the front cover lateral part when the frontcover is fully engaged with the rear cover.
 12. The display device ofclaim 6, wherein the front cover lateral part further comprises a frontcover coupling opening disposed adjacent to the front cover couplingpart, and a rear end of the rear cover coupling part is at leastpartially disposed in the front cover coupling opening when the fontcover is fully engaged with the rear cover.
 13. A display device,comprising: a liquid crystal panel; a backlight unit providing light tothe liquid crystal panel; a rear cover comprising a bottom platedisposed parallel to the liquid crystal panel and a rear cover lateralwall extending perpendicularly forward from the bottom plate and forminga space within which the backlight unit is received; a mold framepositioned between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit andcomprising a frame disposed around a peripheral edge of the liquidcrystal panel and supported by the rear cover lateral wall, and a moldframe lateral wall extending perpendicularly from the frame; and, afront cover adapted to slide down over and couple with the rear coverand thereby form an accommodating space within which the liquid crystalpanel, the mold frame and the backlight unit are protectively enclosed,and comprising a front frame part having a display opening exposing apart of a front surface of the liquid crystal panel therethrough, and afront cover lateral part extending perpendicularly rearward from thefront frame part, and wherein the front cover lateral part includes afront cover coupling part and a lateral projection receiving openingdisposed forward of the front coupling part, the rear cover lateral wallincludes a rear cover coupling part adapted to slidably engage andcouple with the front cover coupling part when the front cover is sliddown over the rear cover, and the mold frame lateral wall of the moldframe includes a lateral projection that spaces the front and rear covercoupling parts apart from each other at a selected lateral distance whenthe front cover is initially disposed on the rear cover for subsequentsliding engagement therewith, and which is received in the lateralprojection receiving opening of the front cover lateral part when thefront and rear covers are fully engaged with each other.
 14. The displaydevice of claim 13, wherein the lateral height of the lateral projectionfrom the mold frame lateral wall of the mold frame is larger than thesum of the lateral height of the front cover coupling part from thefront cover lateral wall and the lateral height of the rear covercoupling part from the rear cover lateral wall.